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Big Questions
Who Am I and Why Do I Matter?
Helps kids grow in faith and confidence by looking at what the Bible says about their identity.
Sooner or later, kids ask big questions about themselves and their faith: Who am I? Where do I fit in? Am I good enough? What do people think of me? What does God think of me?
Christian Studies teacher and school chaplain Chris Morphew has been answering big questions from kids for over a decade. In this warm, empathetic book, he shows children how to embrace and enjoy their identity as those loved by God and made in his image. He also gives lots of practical advice on how to remember what God says about who they really are.
Lively stories and illustrations make this book easy for 9-13s to engage with. Readers will be helped to replace fear and anxiety with faith and confidence as they find their self-worth in what God says about them.
Sooner or later, kids ask big questions about themselves and their faith: Who am I? Where do I fit in? Am I good enough? What do people think of me? What does God think of me?
Christian Studies teacher and school chaplain Chris Morphew has been answering big questions from kids for over a decade. In this warm, empathetic book, he shows children how to embrace and enjoy their identity as those loved by God and made in his image. He also gives lots of practical advice on how to remember what God says about who they really are.
Lively stories and illustrations make this book easy for 9-13s to engage with. Readers will be helped to replace fear and anxiety with faith and confidence as they find their self-worth in what God says about them.
96 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2022
19 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Chris Morphew
36 books152 followersChris Morphew is an author, teacher, and school chaplain living in Sydney, Australia.
He has written twelve books for the best-selling Zac Power series, as well as his own six-book young adult series, The Phoenix Files. He’s also co-written The Gateway, an eight-book series for primary school kids about a hotel for aliens, alongside Rowan McAuley and David Harding.
His latest books are Best News Ever, a 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark, and The Big Questions, a series of short books answer tough questions about life and faith.
Chris enjoys Mario Kart, obscure board games, and superhero movies, and has been told he looks like Chris Hemsworth from the back.
He has written twelve books for the best-selling Zac Power series, as well as his own six-book young adult series, The Phoenix Files. He’s also co-written The Gateway, an eight-book series for primary school kids about a hotel for aliens, alongside Rowan McAuley and David Harding.
His latest books are Best News Ever, a 100-day guide to the Gospel of Mark, and The Big Questions, a series of short books answer tough questions about life and faith.
Chris enjoys Mario Kart, obscure board games, and superhero movies, and has been told he looks like Chris Hemsworth from the back.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 14, 2023
Morphew nails these questions in 10 well structured chapters. Although written for older children, the writing style doesn’t come across as condescending but rather gentle and friendly. My only wish is that I had read this book when I was 12.
January 5, 2024
I received this book from my Nan and it was really good. A simple but worthwhile insight into why putting all your trust into God & his plan for your life, matters and a great explanation on why Gods voice and his opinion of you is the MOST important, especially in a world that constantly is trying to throw other opinions and voices at you.
“Your true identity and worth isn’t something you need to create or earn or piece together. It’s something God gives you. He isn’t asking you to throw away your freedom and follow him. He is asking you to follow him so that he can guide you into freedom – into the true life and meaning and purpose he created you for.”
“Your true identity and worth isn’t something you need to create or earn or piece together. It’s something God gives you. He isn’t asking you to throw away your freedom and follow him. He is asking you to follow him so that he can guide you into freedom – into the true life and meaning and purpose he created you for.”
August 11, 2024
Bit more general than I had hoped and could have done with a bit more depth on most points, but to be fair I'm probably not the target market
June 6, 2025
At first, I was looking forward to reading this book. After all, the topic of "self-discovery" and all that nonsense is rampant in our world today. We all need to approach this issue from a Biblical viewpoint. The first half of the book was excellent. I appreciated Chris Morphew's take on the modern catchphrases, such as "Do what makes you happy". I also appreciated the mention of how looking "inside" ourselves doesn't bring us true happiness--we need to look to Jesus. It was all very solid and encouraging.
However, the second half of the book was very disappointing. There were certain sections where I'm sure the author meant well, but they needed to be worded differently. The author made it sound like Jesus actually WAS a crazy person who was always the life of the party. It would have been better to say that the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being a drunkard (Matt. 11:19). Another aspect I did not appreciate was the author's attempt to make Jesus seem more... relatable. Yes, Jesus is one-hundred percent man, but He is also one-hundred percent God. Morphew attempted to convey that Jesus was somehow insecure in His position as God and man and needed to go off and pray in order to remind Himself of who He was. I don't find anywhere in the Bible where Jesus needed to be reminded that He was the Son of God. He is all-knowing. Furthermore, we do not need to relate to Jesus in order to understand that we have worth, value, and dignity. Jesus is Lord of all creation. We have worth, value, and dignity because He made us.
Morphew also brings up the event of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. In this case, he was trying to get Jesus to sin. Morphew made it sound like Satan was questioning who Jesus was. Satan knows who Jesus is. Even the demons know who Jesus is. There are many instances in the Gospels that confirm this. The demons knew that Jesus had the authority to cast them out (Lk. 4:41, 8:28-33, 9:42; Matt. 8:28-32, 17:18;). Another thing I didn't appreciate was the use of The Message Bible. There are many excellent translations out there, but I'm not a fan of this particular one since it is very loose. (Something else I noticed was the author acknowledged Preston Sprinkle and Timothy Keller, who have, unfortunately, compromised on the truth)
Overall, I thought this book was very disappointing, which is why I am rating it two stars. Morphew started off well, applying Scripture to issues that are normally tackled using worldly propaganda and the "You be you" message. If the book had ended about halfway through, I would have given it a higher rating. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it.
However, the second half of the book was very disappointing. There were certain sections where I'm sure the author meant well, but they needed to be worded differently. The author made it sound like Jesus actually WAS a crazy person who was always the life of the party. It would have been better to say that the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being a drunkard (Matt. 11:19). Another aspect I did not appreciate was the author's attempt to make Jesus seem more... relatable. Yes, Jesus is one-hundred percent man, but He is also one-hundred percent God. Morphew attempted to convey that Jesus was somehow insecure in His position as God and man and needed to go off and pray in order to remind Himself of who He was. I don't find anywhere in the Bible where Jesus needed to be reminded that He was the Son of God. He is all-knowing. Furthermore, we do not need to relate to Jesus in order to understand that we have worth, value, and dignity. Jesus is Lord of all creation. We have worth, value, and dignity because He made us.
Morphew also brings up the event of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. In this case, he was trying to get Jesus to sin. Morphew made it sound like Satan was questioning who Jesus was. Satan knows who Jesus is. Even the demons know who Jesus is. There are many instances in the Gospels that confirm this. The demons knew that Jesus had the authority to cast them out (Lk. 4:41, 8:28-33, 9:42; Matt. 8:28-32, 17:18;). Another thing I didn't appreciate was the use of The Message Bible. There are many excellent translations out there, but I'm not a fan of this particular one since it is very loose. (Something else I noticed was the author acknowledged Preston Sprinkle and Timothy Keller, who have, unfortunately, compromised on the truth)
Overall, I thought this book was very disappointing, which is why I am rating it two stars. Morphew started off well, applying Scripture to issues that are normally tackled using worldly propaganda and the "You be you" message. If the book had ended about halfway through, I would have given it a higher rating. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it.
March 19, 2024
I read like 65% of this and it was really good! A little juvenile but if u are a middle schooler who is Christian it’s really great
April 4, 2022
How can you help your kids discover their identity in Christ? In Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? Chris Morphew helps kids grow in faith and confidence by looking at what the Bible says about their identity. Written for 9-13 year olds, this is a simple yet helpful book that answers some of life’s biggest questions.
True Freedom
Morphew starts the book with the second question in the title: Why Do I Matter? He says that this is actually an issue of significance. He breaks down why chasing money, looks, and achievements will ultimately fail us. These are issues that we all struggle with, but Morphew comes at them from an angle that will resonate with his readers.
He then takes on the first question in the title: Who Am I? He comes to the conclusion that our individual selves are deeply influenced and shaped by others. This causes us to search for love, acceptance, and significance as we figure out who we are and how we should live. Morphew shares that the Apostle Paul found the answer to true freedom, and it came from finding his identity in who God said he was.
Tethered to the Bible
Simple yet convincing illustrations from Morphew’s own life help to get his points across, but I most appreciated how he stays tethered to the Biblical text for his proofs. He helps the readers see their need for ultimate reality, so figuring out who God is will help us figure out who we are. We were never meant to invent our own identities, and following God and his ways will help us find true freedom. We are made in the image of God, and created with the purpose of glorifying him.
Morphew acknowledges that we are broken people, but he makes it clear that God is love and that he loves us. In Jesus, there is life. Prayer, reading the Bible, and resting in him are the pathways of living in his love. This is not a book on discipleship, but it gives you a great place to start.
Show Your Kids Christ
What I loved the most about this book is that it does not talk down to the intended audience. It takes the questions seriously and comes from the perspective of wanting to help young people become believers. With winsome words and warm writing, this book is a blessing and will show your kids Christ.
I received a media copy of Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? and this is my honest review.
True Freedom
Morphew starts the book with the second question in the title: Why Do I Matter? He says that this is actually an issue of significance. He breaks down why chasing money, looks, and achievements will ultimately fail us. These are issues that we all struggle with, but Morphew comes at them from an angle that will resonate with his readers.
He then takes on the first question in the title: Who Am I? He comes to the conclusion that our individual selves are deeply influenced and shaped by others. This causes us to search for love, acceptance, and significance as we figure out who we are and how we should live. Morphew shares that the Apostle Paul found the answer to true freedom, and it came from finding his identity in who God said he was.
Tethered to the Bible
Simple yet convincing illustrations from Morphew’s own life help to get his points across, but I most appreciated how he stays tethered to the Biblical text for his proofs. He helps the readers see their need for ultimate reality, so figuring out who God is will help us figure out who we are. We were never meant to invent our own identities, and following God and his ways will help us find true freedom. We are made in the image of God, and created with the purpose of glorifying him.
Morphew acknowledges that we are broken people, but he makes it clear that God is love and that he loves us. In Jesus, there is life. Prayer, reading the Bible, and resting in him are the pathways of living in his love. This is not a book on discipleship, but it gives you a great place to start.
Show Your Kids Christ
What I loved the most about this book is that it does not talk down to the intended audience. It takes the questions seriously and comes from the perspective of wanting to help young people become believers. With winsome words and warm writing, this book is a blessing and will show your kids Christ.
I received a media copy of Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? and this is my honest review.
April 27, 2022
This is the fourth book in Chris Morphew's Big Questions series, in which he answers kids' common questions about life and Christianity. Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? addresses a deeply universal issue, and Morphew writes about it in an engaging, conversational style, explaining why it isn't enough for us to pursue a sense of self-worth through our friends' opinions, our appearance or abilities, or our own sense of being true to ourselves. He shows why our efforts at creating a secure sense of self-worth and identity fail, and points us to Christ.
This book is highly readable and perfect for its target audience, covering a lot of important issues in about eighty pages. Morphew addresses complex ideas in clear, often humorous ways, and his explanation of why individualism fails is particularly helpful, pushing back against cultural dogma that surrounds kids. In addition to this, he shares illustrative stories from his own life and expresses compassion for kids who struggle to fit in or feel particularly disappointed with themselves. Overall, this book is very honest and helpful, and I know that I would have appreciated it when I was the target age for it.
Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? is an excellent resource for families, Christian schools, and church groups. The publisher is marketing this book for kids from ages nine to thirteen, but the age range is flexible. Older teenagers who are reluctant readers will find this book's brevity and conversational style appealing, and the book's content and examples are appropriate for younger kids as well. The wide age range suitability would make this book an excellent choice for a family read-aloud, and its gospel encouragement can be a blessing to adults as well.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is highly readable and perfect for its target audience, covering a lot of important issues in about eighty pages. Morphew addresses complex ideas in clear, often humorous ways, and his explanation of why individualism fails is particularly helpful, pushing back against cultural dogma that surrounds kids. In addition to this, he shares illustrative stories from his own life and expresses compassion for kids who struggle to fit in or feel particularly disappointed with themselves. Overall, this book is very honest and helpful, and I know that I would have appreciated it when I was the target age for it.
Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? is an excellent resource for families, Christian schools, and church groups. The publisher is marketing this book for kids from ages nine to thirteen, but the age range is flexible. Older teenagers who are reluctant readers will find this book's brevity and conversational style appealing, and the book's content and examples are appropriate for younger kids as well. The wide age range suitability would make this book an excellent choice for a family read-aloud, and its gospel encouragement can be a blessing to adults as well.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2022
Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? is the latest title by author and teacher Christopher Morphew. In just under 100 pages, Morphew helps young readers understand their identity from a biblical perspective. Although the target audience for this book is young children, I found myself greatly encouraged by it. I enjoyed Morphew's use of logic as he peeled back the layers on how the world defines identity versus how God defines it. One aspect of this book that really blessed me was the reminder of God's love for me as an image bearer and as His child.
I enjoyed how Morphew employed his teaching skills in his simple and straightforward gospel presentation on pages 55-56. It was also interesting to see how he used various illustrations to express how looking for our identity in anything except God will always leave us feeling dissatisfied. Morphew helpfully examines common beliefs about the source of our identity and demonstrates how they fall short.
On an aesthetic note, I love the book's cover and accompanying hand drawn illustrations. Although the famous adage discourages judging a book by its cover, the cover of the book as well as the others in the series lends itself to positive judgment for a job well done. If you are looking for a resource that will help children and young teens understand their identity from a biblical perspective and clearly articulate the gospel, look no further.
I received Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed how Morphew employed his teaching skills in his simple and straightforward gospel presentation on pages 55-56. It was also interesting to see how he used various illustrations to express how looking for our identity in anything except God will always leave us feeling dissatisfied. Morphew helpfully examines common beliefs about the source of our identity and demonstrates how they fall short.
On an aesthetic note, I love the book's cover and accompanying hand drawn illustrations. Although the famous adage discourages judging a book by its cover, the cover of the book as well as the others in the series lends itself to positive judgment for a job well done. If you are looking for a resource that will help children and young teens understand their identity from a biblical perspective and clearly articulate the gospel, look no further.
I received Who Am I and Why Do I Matter? compliments of The Good Book Company in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2023
In dem wirklich kurzen und dennoch unterhaltsam geschriebenen Buch “Wer bin ich und warum bin ich wertvoll?” geht Chris Morphew der Identitätsfrage auf den Grund. Die Kapitel, die allesamt in wenigen Minuten gelesen werden können, können nicht als selbstständige, abgeschlossene Antworten betrachtet werden. Vielmehr wird durch die Fragen der einzelnen Kapitel der rote Faden für die Beantwortung der Titelfrage gelegt. Trotz der Kürze gelingt es dem Autor, inhaltliche Tiefe zu erzeugen und die Identität und den Wert jedes Menschen auf Gott und seiner Liebe, die sich durch Jesus offenbart hat, zu gründen. Der Aufruf in den letzten beiden Kapiteln Jesus nachzueifern, rundet das stimmige Gesamtbild ab.
December 11, 2023
Great approach of language and contexts suitable for teenagers. I only hope that the writer is a bit clearer on how God's love is expressed to us in Jesus i.e., that is the Gospel. There are bits that tell of this, but I think it's also important to: 1) Define and summarise what the Gospel is (name it, 'the Gospel'); 2) Highlight that idolising or chasing after other things to satisfy our desires is sin (and name it, 'sin').
And probably on the side of preference, but would be great perhaps to stick to one or two Bible translations at most (and avoid something like the Message). I think this will also encourage the youngsters to learn how to read and study the Scriptures and understand what it's saying without necessarily have to switch to other translations.
And probably on the side of preference, but would be great perhaps to stick to one or two Bible translations at most (and avoid something like the Message). I think this will also encourage the youngsters to learn how to read and study the Scriptures and understand what it's saying without necessarily have to switch to other translations.
January 7, 2025
Wonderful book, wish I had it as a teenager
I bought this book as something I want to give my daughter when she gets older (she's still a toddler) because these questions are bound to rise up in her head, and they sure did in mine in my youth. I wish I read this book as a child, but even as an adult, it was a great read. I'm so grateful to have found it now and can help my children find answers in the future. I'm going to go through more of this author's books, they look excellent.
I bought this book as something I want to give my daughter when she gets older (she's still a toddler) because these questions are bound to rise up in her head, and they sure did in mine in my youth. I wish I read this book as a child, but even as an adult, it was a great read. I'm so grateful to have found it now and can help my children find answers in the future. I'm going to go through more of this author's books, they look excellent.
March 19, 2024
What a phenomenal little book! I think it's meant for teens or pre-teens but I think it would be relevant to any adult. It's clear, biblical and relevant and addresses the big questions of life that we all struggle with - identity, belonging, purpose, guilt, peer pressure. The gospel is also very clear and shared in an engaging way that points to Jesus and his love as being truly good news!
May 7, 2024
This book would be a great resource for a Middle School Student who is having questions about their faith and identity. It was a very simple and easy read that touched on many of the big identity questions most people face in middle school. I just wish there was more scripture referenced in the first few chapters like there was in the second half of the book.
April 26, 2025
While I am not a Christian, a friend gave me this book to read because it helped her in the past. I read the entire book in one sitting, while I am new to self help books, I found a lot of meaningful advice I could incorporate into my own life. It is true that not everything in the book resonated with me, but it does not take away from the parts of the book that did.
January 26, 2023
My son and I read this at the same time. We had a lot of great discussions about where we find our identity and value. I’d highly recommend this book—it was engaging, thought provoking, and well written!
April 12, 2023
Written for teens but relevant for adults also.
October 20, 2023
more like 2.75.
def not for high schoolers. maybe like three year olds
def not for high schoolers. maybe like three year olds
May 15, 2024
awesome book helping us tweens understand who God says we are and helping us to ignore all the noise of who we are meant to be
December 15, 2024
No es un libro solo para adolescentes, si no que funciona muy bien para cualquier cristiano en cualquier etapa de su vida, fácil de leer y muy práctico.
January 21, 2025
No es un libro solo para adolescentes, si no que funciona muy bien para cualquier cristiano en cualquier etapa de su vida, fácil de leer y muy práctico
December 21, 2025
These are all getting a 5☆ from me
January 25, 2024
This was FANTASTIC. I read it in 30 min. The Gospel clearly present and why it matters!
June 3, 2022
Super helpful book for tweens and teens and their parents. Do yourself a favour and read it with your kids!
August 8, 2025
Written for teens, but still relevant for adults. Easy to read bite sized format.
This book breaks down the questions 'Who am I?' and 'Why do I matter?' that takes the reader on an exploratory journey.
Chris demonstrates in a clear and logical way that our identity and purpose can not be found in things like achievements, friends, and image, but can be found through a relationship with the one who created us.
This book breaks down the questions 'Who am I?' and 'Why do I matter?' that takes the reader on an exploratory journey.
Chris demonstrates in a clear and logical way that our identity and purpose can not be found in things like achievements, friends, and image, but can be found through a relationship with the one who created us.
March 4, 2022
I love this series and was excited to see this new one arrive on my doorstep today! Morphew once again does a great job explaining a big topic in a way that is relatable to tweens and teens (and adults too 😉).
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews